Ronkalunga and Leoni Torres joined their voices to release "La Guayabera," available on all digital platforms starting this Thursday, a song that stands as a passionate tribute to traditional Cuban music and the giants who shaped it.
The song, composed by Ronkalunga and produced by Plus Media Music and ImpulseMediaLab, calls upon a gallery of legends in its lyrics: Arsenio Rodríguez, Celia Cruz, Ibrahim Ferrer, Bola de Nieve, La Lupe, Rolando Laserie, Barbarito Diez, and the Trova Santiaguera, among others.
Compay Segundo and Faustino Oramas "El Guayabero" also appear as guiding figures. The former in a verse that has become the hook of the song: "Compay told me to tell you to hold on to the guayabera." The latter, as a master of double meaning: "El Guayabero taught me the double meaning to uplift the heart with wholesome joy, to sing and raise my voice against oblivion. I am the décima and I am the Cuban point."
The son, the décima, the punto cubano, and the changüí are the genres that the lyrics champion against other currents, with a declaration of principles that runs throughout the theme: “It’s not the Cuban sound I bring, no. Don’t confuse me when you feel the rhythm, because the essence of Cubanness has a different flavor. It sounds similar, but it’s not the same.”
After the premiere, Ronkalunga shared on YouTube the excitement he felt from the creative process: "What a beautiful journey it has been to create 'La Guayabera' alongside a brother and an artist of the caliber of Leoni Torres, whom I have always admired and respected."
The singer-songwriter described the origin of the song with words that leave no doubt about his intention: "This song was born from the depths of my soul as a powerful tribute to our Cuban identity, to our roots, and, above all, as a deeply sincere homage to the greats of traditional Cuban music who paved the way before us."
“Today we have the immense responsibility and pride of representing it, of carrying it with our heads held high and cherishing it as the treasure it is,” wrote Ronkalunga, referring to the heritage of Cuban music, concluding his message with a direct invitation to the audience: “I hope you enjoy 'La Guayabera' as much as we enjoyed making it!”
Ronkalunga (Ronaldo Rodríguez Hernández) was born in Baracoa, Guantánamo, and founded his group in 2018 with a proposal that blends changüí, son, and guaracha with reggae, afrobeat, and pop. He gained recognition in 2025 with "El Carnicero" and has positioned himself as an alternative to explicit urban music.
Leoni Torres, for his part, is one of the Cuban singer-songwriters with the greatest international projection. His career includes nominations for a Latin Grammy for Alma Cubana (2021), Canten – Homenaje a Polo Montañez (2022), and Cualquiera se enamora (2026).
The collaboration between both had been in the works since April 2026, when Torres announced an album produced by Emilio Estefan Jr. featuring Ronkalunga.
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